Wheatley addresses statements from VG ad hoc committee
Minister of Health Vincent Wheatley has addressed the House of Assembly (HOA) regarding the Ad Hoc Committee for Urgent Enhancement of Healthcare on Virgin Gorda, which has called for a preview of the government’s preliminary estimates for the 2025 budget.
The committee was formed in response to increasing public frustration with healthcare services on the island and voiced concerns that community needs are not receiving adequate attention.
During his statement on Thursday morning, Wheatley emphasised the need for better public education on government processes and advocated for the transparency of the Standing Finance Committee’s (SFC) discussions. This committee examines the territory’s Annual and Supplementary Estimates in detail and oversees government departmental responsibilities.”
It goes to what I’ve been saying, we have to do more in this Honourable House to educate the people out there,” Wheatley said.
“Let us make Standing Finance public,” Wheatley stated. “There seems to be a lack of understanding of how the standing finance process works,” he added, referring to the Ad Hoc Committee’s press release.
He also offered apologies to the Ninth District, which includes Virgin Gorda, acknowledging his role as the representative. “I apologise to my district, but we have been busy making sure we get these works done, to improve the system of delivery for healthcare,” Wheatley stated. “I’m not making excuses. This is the reality. We’ve been in the House every single day this week.”
Wheatley reiterated that the issues raised by the committee are the same concerns being addressed by legislators in the House. With the 2024/2025 budget expected to be announced by year’s end, the ad hoc VG committee expressed apprehension that the community would be overlooked in budget allocations once again. They urged the Health Minister and the government to prioritise critical funding needs and requested updates on action points from a community meeting held in early September, citing a lack of communication from the ministry since that time.
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Looking for more and greater streams rolling in invisible silence. Well, well, well.
will he take his own advice and step aside for the greater good.
How can we have a NHI scheme that allows private health providers to build multi-million dollar facilities while at the same time government services are crumbling. Can someone make this make sense.
Yes , this is the first question to be asked.
Because the hospital services are deplorable.
Couldn’t be further from the truth. And when the private clinics abandon you guess where you’ll end up?
Most of the patients go to the private facilities. You can actually get an appointment to see a specialist there including a BVIHSA specialist. The hospital and clinics are empty by 2:00 pm and except ER closed on weekends while the private clinics are open and full into the evening and weekends. Hence the private facilities get paid for actual work while the BVIHSA collects their subvention regardless and offers very little service.
Because we the people allow it. We demand, we get and like spoiled, entitled children once we get we discard and move on to the next thing to complain about. The private medical system we have here is feeding on the NHI like vampires at an orgy in a blood bank. To their own detriment because as cost of living rise, people become more aware and empowered, stop allowing others to gaslight and convince us that what WE built is not good enough, educate ourselves and learn how to get the best and most out of our NHI dollars, somebody will not survive because the population is not big enough to sustain both. The majority of the population need to understand that even if they choose to use private (which is absolutely fine) if you are seriously ill, injured or used up your NHI the only place for you is the public system which has become the dumping ground for the private practice an additional cost to you the tax payers. Wake up people! Use the system and services that YOU demanded and paid for. Demand an immediate stop to the gross conflict of interest practices of our most senior medical public officers and you will reap the benefits of a stronger better health service for all.
You have to acknowledge the Minister’s conviction that people seek knowledge and facts at times to his detriment, even when the prevailing political climate often rewards theatrics over substance. The Premier himself recently acknowledged the pressure to boast more about achievements, a testament to the performative nature of politics. It’s unfortunate, but in this environment, those who shout the loudest often create the illusion of action, while those with genuine intentions can be overlooked.
Thankfully, the people of Virgin Gorda aren’t easily swayed by superficial displays or hungry for power-driven narratives. They recognize who truly advocates for their interests. Moreover, when critics belittle Virgin Gordians for their electoral choices, they’re not just questioning the decision—they’re arrogantly asserting their own supposed superiority. This condescension underestimates the intelligence of the electorate, who are perceptive enough to see through such “politricks” and make informed decisions based on their own lived realities.
Yes the SFC’s report is publicly available (albeit a very long time after the committee’s deliberation) but what he is asking is for the actual proceedings of the SFC to be made public. The recent Report of the Constitutional Review Commission recommended that the proceedings of SFC and all other committees of the HoA (such as for the second reading of Bills) be open to the public unless there is an overriding reason for them to be closed. Open committees are common in the U.K. and in other countries where the Westminster model is followed.
The Standing finance report is a public document. Is he saying the the public cannot read. Very interesting.
for a long time now , that fellow is sly , his smile is deceptive it’s like a two faced sn*ke and he is not alone / we know what they have been doing to the poorer class and especially those
” WE ” call ” island people ” so we can act supprised and fool ourselves as much as we want / we all ignored what was done to r Caribbean brothers and sisters to double tax them using money gram / and leaving the employers untouched / now he flexing off on ” WE ” we acting supprised let’s all dance to his music / the princess was a better choice , BUT she got lost somewhere in the journey
Wheatley boy I don’t blame you. Keep fooling them off!
Yes! Adhoc
The way the hospital is staffed show that there is no regard for the lives of all
An entire island with not even a doctor on call is like life in the early fifties.
The package the government offer to recuit doctors and nurses is ridiculous.
Those who come are treated like crap by the BVI slanders
They are overworked
Patients talk to them like they are nobody because they are not from here
What the hell you expect . Driving away those who can do a lot better. As soon as their contract up they cannot wait to leave … this place is a college
This man is as fake as they come. We have to ask who is really running BVIHSA? WHERE IS THE CEO
Epsom salt for nutrient, yes keep them lean in their mind and brain. They are late in knowing who are what they elected, just another swamp thing.